Tim Benz: Erik Karlsson is finally playing some defense. Too bad it’s about his no-movement clause
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Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman Erik Karlsson seems to have no urgency when it comes to waiving his no-movement clause.
“I have full say on whether anything happens or not,” Karlsson said when asked about that notion Sunday. “I have not been asked, and until I do get asked — whenever that is and if that is — I’ll take a stance. Until then, I’m not worrying about it. I have nothing to worry about because I would be the first one to know, I’m sure. Then, I’ll deal with that situation if that occurs. Up until now, it hasn’t. It hasn’t been on my mind, and it’s not something that I’m walking around thinking about.”
OK. But, given the Penguins’ last-place reality, shouldn’t Karlsson want out at just about all costs?
“I’ve always liked this group. Obviously, we haven’t gotten the most out of it. We haven’t played up to the potential that we believe we have in here. That’s tough. But again, I love all the guys,” Karlsson said via TribLive’s Seth Rorabaugh. “I’ve had a good time here, and I’ll continue and do so until my time is over.”
I mean, maybe don’t rubber stamp a trade to Buffalo or Nashville or back to San Jose. But, at 34, one would think that Karlsson would be begging his way out of Pittsburgh to any contender that may be desperate enough on the blueline to take him.
If Penguins general manager Kyle Dubas can get Karlsson out of Pittsburgh to any one of about 20 teams, I can’t imagine why he wouldn’t take them up on that opportunity.
The Pens have been lousy ever since he got here. He has been a big reason why. The fans are on his back. I imagine the coaches are sick to death of his defensive brain cramps.
Yet Karlsson appears perfectly content playing things out in Pittsburgh.
Boy, that says a lot.
No ramifications for his frequent giveaways (nine over two games last weekend). No accountability for his two brutal mistakes that directly led to Toronto Maple Leafs goals at the end of the second period Sunday. He just kept meandering through all three zones in the third period, totaling 31 shifts during the overtime game.
Karlsson’s colossal last-second giveaway set up Matthew Knies’ buzzer-beating, second-period goal for the Maple Leafs.
???? MATTHEW KNIES BUZZER BEATER GOAL! ????
HE SCORES WITH 0.1 LEFT ON THE CLOCK AND THE LEAFS WILL START THE THIRD WITH A ONE-GOAL LEAD!
????: @NHL_on_TNT & @SportsonMax ➡️ https://t.co/4TuyIATi3T pic.twitter.com/PCFYz0RKcV
— NHL (@NHL) March 2, 2025
The most stinging rebuke that coach Mike Sullivan could muster up after that was, “You’d like to think we wouldn’t do that.”
Wow. Blistering stuff, Sully. Are you sure you aren’t being too hard on the guy? Simmer down, huh?
The Penguins had to demote goalie prospect Joel Blomqvist so as to avoid sending him to years of therapy to overcome the psychological damage caused by playing behind Karlsson and the rest of that defensive unit.
Just bring Tristan Jarry back up to absorb the last six weeks with Alex Nedeljkovic, I guess. Those two are pretty much broken as it is. What further damage can Karlsson really cause them?
Karlsson’s comments sound like they are coming from a guy who is thoroughly content. He comes off as a player who is 100% at ease with a situation that should be giving everyone in that locker room hives.
He’s comfortable here, hunting for points and only dialing up his focus in one-third of the rink. He can do so because it is all in the vacuum of a season that is so far down the tubes that his ill-timed errors do nothing but help strengthen the organization’s draft position.
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Karlsson has a coach who is allergic to calling out veterans. He plays in a locker room full of other star players who, quite frankly, are far too respectful of other offensively skilled peers when they make mistakes. Plus, he plays in front of a fanbase and media corps that are more concerned over which running back the Steelers will take on Day 3 of the NFL Draft than the hockey team’s $10 million miscalculation.
Come to think of it, when I phrase it that way, why would Karlsson ever want to leave?
Well, unless he cared one iota about winning and competition as opposed to just collecting a check.
The Erik Karlsson who just played for Team Sweden in the 4 Nations Face-Off fit that description for two weeks. Is he still hanging out somewhere in the North End of Boston? Can we get that guy on a plane to Colorado in time for Tuesday night’s game?
I’ve been waiting almost two full years to see Karlsson actually give a flying fig about defense. I was hoping it would eventually happen on the ice.
Not in a quote about his no-movement clause.